P R ~ P A R E DB Y

HISTORICAL OFFICE

MANAGEMENT SERVICES OFFICE

GEORGE C . M A R S H A L L S P A C E FLIGHT C E N T E R

N A T W AERONAUTKS AN@ SPACI ADMINISTRATION

/'- F E f l i l U A R Y 2 5 . 1965

BY
H.A. SCHULZE

CHNICAL DATA
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
4

This report deals with the development of the A 4 (V-2).

It i s restricted t o technical data referring t o

dimensions, test data and test objectives, and is directed
t o be used a8 a guide line.

F & D 876-1126
February 1965

Advice and assistance, rendered by some members of the teaq are

aoknowledged and appreoiated.

iii
*

a
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword ........................ ii i

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Introduction ................... V

Chapter

I A-1 . 1
A-2
A-3 a
e

0
e e

e
e

e
. 0

. 0 2
5
A-5 e e 13

I1 A-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

I11 Technical Data for

( 1 ) S a t e l l i t e Missiles
( 2 ) Space Vehicles
(Outgrowth and further development of the A - 4 ) . . . . . 46

iv
I. INTRODUCTION

*
8 T h i s r e p o r t was compiled from documentation on Peenemuende which

was brought t o t h e U. S. and s t o r e d f o r approximately 12 y e a r s a t

Redstone Arsenal. Before o f f i c i a l r e t u r n of t h e s e documents i n t h e

s m e r of 1958 t o West Germany, t h e a u t h o r screened t h e material and

made d u p l i c a t e c o p i e s of t h e most important d a t a . The p r e s e n t r e p o r t

c o n t a i n s t h e s i g n i f i c a n t items i n t h i s s e l e c t i o n p e r t a i n i n g t o "Technical

Data on t h e Development o f t h e A-4(V-2);"

The material i s arranged i n t h r e e s e c t i o n g . The f i r s t s e c t i o n begins

w i t h r e a l e a r l y , p r i m i t i v e sounding r o c k e t s (A-1 t h r u A-3) and c l o s e s

w i t h t h e f o r e r u n n e r of t h e V-2(A-5). The middle and b a s i c p o r t i o n of

t h i s book d e a l s o n l y w i t h t h e A-4(V-2) by showing t h e development of

components, diagrams, t e s t and launch f a c i l i t i e s as w e l l as some p i c t u r e s

of A-4 launchings. S e c t i o n two c l o s e s w i t h some d a t a on a n improved

A-4, t h e A-4b, which had wings a t t a c h e d t o t h e body. The t h i r d and l a s t

p o r t i o n of t h e book emphasizes a v a i l a b l e information on t e c h n i c a l capa-

b i l i t i e s and t r e n d s o f f u r t h e r developments a f t e r t h e A-4, from t h e A-6

through t h e A-10. None of t h e d a t a i n t h i s f i n a l s e c t i o n beyond t h e A-4

was ever pursued beyond t h e drawing board s t a g e .

V
 PEENEMUENDE
-n
uI*u* lcIIsLl sann
m mown -.

vi
J

c
..
-
A - 1

1932 - 33: KOElMWSDORPr

near Berlin
Weight : 150 kg (330 lbs)
Length: 1.40 m (4 it 6 in)
Dimeater: 30.4 c10 (1 ft)
Fuel: Lox - Alcohol (75%)
Thrust: 300 kg (660 lbs)
TW: 16 sec
0 & C Platform: 3 phase electric motors with gyroscope (90 lbs)

-
Test8 ;
1. Model exploded at static firing test on 21 December 1932.
2. Model never launched.

T o t a l vehicle was nose-heavy a8 subsequent studies revealed.

Delayed ignition detonated an explosive laixture which had

accumulated I n the combu8tion chamber within h second.

Test Objectives :
Propulsion dr Control Test8

1
-
193b: KUMMERSDORF
near Berlin
Weight:
Length:
Diameter: Same as A l l , only change relocation
Fuel: of stabilired platform.
Thrust:
Time:
G & C Platform: located in the center of the rocket
Launching Place: Island of Borkum, Baltic Sea.

Both successfUI, altitude approximately 1% miles.

Test Objectives:
Propulsion 6 Control Tests

2
GERMAN A-2 ROCKET

3
..

/GYRO

SOME I MIPORTAN T DA T A
O F THE A - 2 R OC KE T

\ D IAMETER
LENGTH 5-
I WE IGHT 400
THRUST 650

German A-2 Rocket

4
 -
A - 3

-
1936: PEENEMWNDE
Baitic Sea
Weight : 750 kg (1650 lbs)
Length: 6.74 m (22 ft)
Diameter: 67.3 cm (2.2 ft)
Fuel: LOX - Alcohol (75%)
Thrust: 1.5 to (3300 lbs)
Time : 45 sec
0 & C Platform: 3 dimensional gyro control system, jet rudders
and rudder actuators
Launching Place: Island of Greifswalder Oie, Baltic Sea

For the first time, liquid nitrogen pressurization system

was used.

Launchings :
A 3/1: 4 December 1937
Take-off perfect.
x + 3 8ec parachute ejects (uncontrolled) pull; the rocket
to one ,side.
x + 6.5 sec cut-off.
Rocket hits ground 300 m (984 ft) from launch place and
explodes .
5
 A - 3 (Cont)
A - 3/2: 6 December 1937
Take-off perfect.
x + 3 sec again parachute ejects.

Again rocket destroyed by explosion.

A - 3/3: 8 December 1937

Parachute taken out
Take-off perfect.
Rocket again turns sideways, causing cut-off.
Rocket hits Baltic Sea and is destroyed by explosion.

A - 3/k: 11 December 1937

Same results as on 8 December.

Test Objectives:

Steering Control Tests

6
..

GERMAN A - 3 ROCKET I N TEST STAND

.

GERMAN A - 3 ROCKET DTJRING AND AFTER ERECTION I N SERVICE TOWER

8
c

GERMAN A - 3 ROCWT AFTER LAUNCH

9
 ,

--.
,- - 0 3

GERMAN A - 3 ROCKET

10
 m
0

F:
k

11
 J
U
a
W
5

ff

.
1937: PEENEMUENGE
Baltic Sea
Weight : 800 kg (1760 l b s )
Length : 7.4 m (24.2 ft)

Diameter : 75.8 cm (2.5 f t )

Fuel : LOX - Alcohol (75%)
Thrust : 1.5 t o (31d lbs)
Time : 45 sec
Range : 16 km (11.2 mi)
Launching Place: Island of Greif'swalder Oie, Baltic Sea

After failures on the A-3 series, new design only retained the
experienced power-plant and added a completely new guidance and
stabilization system.

1. Test of Scale Models:

a. Dropped from airplanes (summer 1938).

b, Launched without guidance (March 1939).
2. Parachute Tests.
3. Graphite Jet Steering Vanes,

Launching8 :

13
 Fully equipped A -5 with new guidance system and

parachute .
No attempt to go into trajectory.
Heights more than 8 km (5.0 mi)
Recovery on parachutes successful..

A - 5/3: October 1939

Same as A - s/l and A - 5/2; full success.- First time
gui-ce system fully lured ( 4 9 traJectory).
After this break-through, approximately 70 to 80 launch-
ings took place until late 1942. Some vehicles were refurbished
after previous launchings.
A - 5 was used as "test vehicle" for all different kinds
of modifications.

Test Objectives?
- 3).
--.I

1, Guidance & Control Tests (LEV

2, Jet Vane Tests (Carbon)
3 . Parachute Tests (Recovery) .

14
CONTROL ACTUATOf?

BATTERY

STABIUZU) PUTFORM

.RADIO =AGE

NITROGEN TANK

OXYG€N TANK

-PARACHUTE

SOME IMPORTANT DATA

O F THE A - 5 ROCKET
D IAMETER 28'
LENGTH 22'
WE IGHT (EMPTY) 1,200 LBO
LAUNCH rNQ WE IOHT 1,800 LB.
THRUST DEVELOPED 3, 0 0 LBO
PROPULS I ON T IME t 5 SEC.
ALTITUDE REACHED 13,000 METERS
RANGE 18,000 METERS

German A-5 Rockef

15
 ~~

H V P
1940

Aggregat 5

TAITB

GERMAN A-5 ROCKET

16
 I .

c -

GERMAN A - 5 ROCKET DROP-TESTS FROM HE-111

17

I
..

i
GERMAN A-5 ROCKET OPERATION-DIAGRAM

18
GERMAN A - 5 ROCKET FUEL-VALVES

19
 I 1

'v
c

GERMAN A-5 ROCKET COMBUSTION-CHAMBER

20
!
GERMAN A - 5 ROCKET INSTRUMENT-COMPAR'NT

21

~ ~- ~~ ~~
..

.
e
- 1945: PEE"DE
Baltic Sea
weight : 12.52 t o (27,500 lbs)

Length: U.3 (43.6 f t )

Mater: 1.65 IQ (5.h ft)
Fuel: LOX - Alcohol (75%)
Thrust: 25 t o (56,000 l b s )
Time: 65 sec
Range : 200 km (125 mi)

Launching Place : Peenemende, Test Stand V I 1

For the first time a turbo-pump was incorporated, powered by

an 80% hydrogen-peroxide steam generator.
For the first time a new guidance system (LEV-3) with 3-axis
stabilized platform was used.

Launchings :
A - h/l: 18 March 1942
Destroyed during power plant test.

-
-
A &/2: 13 June 1942
H i r s l l e atrrrkd rotating early a f t e r take-off.
Correction through guidance €icst successful, but l a t e r full
360° rotations.

22
1.
x + 54 (approx) cut-off.
x + 96 (approx) missile hits Baltic Sea approximately
1.3 km from Test Stand VII.

A - 4 / 3 : 16 A w S t 1942
x + 4 electrical power system failure.
x + 20 missile leaves trajectory.

x + 25 Hach 1

x + 45 cut-off (11,720 m height, velocity 651.4 m/sec)

Due to early cut-off, fuel residues destroy tank-heads,
explodes, missile burns, tumbles, top section and tail fins break
off.
x + 196 missile hit8 Baltic Sea approximately 8.7 kpl from
Test Stand VSI.

A - ,!&',I:
...- .-..* _.._." 3 Ockober 1942
First full success.
Missile stays completely withla calculated trajectory.
x + 57.8 cut-off (velocity 1500 m/sec, 90 kn height) .
x + 296 d e s i l e hits target 190 km away (Baltic Sea)
A us:21 October 1942
Partial B U C C ~ ~ S147
, km,

23
 A - 4/6: 9 November 1942
Guidance trouble, missile does not go into trajectory,

straight up 67 km,

A - 4/7: 28 November 1942

Missile tumbles, looses sheet metal exhawt and v m t
covers, thrust l a s t s only f o r 37 seconds.

-
-
A w9: 12 December 1942
x + 4 exploaion during programing into trajectory.

A - 4hO: 7 January 19b3

Ekplosion on launcher during ignition.

24
..

AS A3

Anteme J itm~c.-jw Loftrude-

COMPARISON OF GERMAN ROCKETS A - 3 , A - 5 , A - 4

25
..

GERMAN A - 4 ROCKET

26
A M . 1 Fernraketc Im Schpitt . Abb. 2 Fernrakete A /

auf der Startplattfofm .

GERMAN A-4 ROCKET CUT-AWAY AND ON LAUNCH PLATFORM

27
8

GERMAN A-4 R O C U T OPERATION-DIAGRAM

28
GERMAN A - 4 ROCKET COMBUSTION CHAMBER (R&D)

29
..

GERMAN A - 4 ROCKET COMBUSTION CHAMBER PARTS

30
..

GERMAN A - 4 ROCKET COMBUSTION CHAMBER (CUT-AWAY)

31
-.

GERMAN A - 4 ROCKET COMBUSTION CHAMBER (PRODUCTION)

32

~~ ~ ~ ~
V - 2 Propulsion Cut-off Device, System I
A-4 (V-2) Stabilized Platform

34
w
#
#
a

V - 2 Propulsion Cut-off Device, System II

35
 2
x
-
cn
X
c3

36
 X
V
z
3
..

37
PE~ENEMUENDE: LAUNCH PREPARATION CAR (ON RAIL TRACKS)

38
..

PEENEMUENDE: LAUNCHING OF A - 4 ROCKET

39
 . .
.
,';
., I*:, n .
.

GERMAN A - 4 ROCKET AFTER LAUNCH

40
41
..

German V - 2 Rocket
42
-
1944:
Same dimensions as A - b.
A - 4b was called the ltGlider.
Wings were added for use of some of the unused stored-up ~ i ~ t i . :
energies t o reach a target approximately 450 km (281 m i ) .

- 4b:
-
A 24 January 1945
First successful launch.
Mission not completed due to failure in one wing.

Test Obdective:~

Increase in target distance.

43
 I

GERMAN A-4B ROCKET "GLIDER"

44
 z
0
H
E
U
0
d

45
 TECHNICAL DATA

FOR

(1) Satellite fissiles

(2) Space Vehicles

(Outgrowth and further

development of the A - 4.)

46
 Blueprint only; never left the drawing board and the pre-
liminary analysis stage.

Design Objective :
Subsonic missile.

47
1940 - 43:
Dimensions :
Replica of A - 5 only with wings as forerunner f o r A - 9 ,
with shape of A - 9 (no payload capability)
Design Objectives:
i
11. Model of A - 9 for new steering control device
t e s t i n g ( rocket-glider )
2. Two models:
a. D r o p g l i d e r for b a l l i s t i c tests, without pro-

pulsion u n i t (Range: dropped from approximately 8000 ft a l t i t u d e =

45 w.
b. With propulsion u n i t f o r normal rocket l a u n c h k g
(approximately 1800 l b s thrust - 25 km) .
Tests :
Two drop-glider t e s t s were performed, both unsuccessful,
No model of type b. was ever b u i l t .

48
. 1940 - 43:
Blueprint stage only.
Dimensions: Same as A - 4 (without w i n g s )
Design Objective:
1. Increased thrust 66,000 lbs.
a, New fuel: Nitric acid & kerosene.
b. Increased burning the: 90 sec.
Forerunner for A - 9 (as second stage for - 10). A

-
Tests: Only thrust-chamber tests were run, no vehicle was
ever b u i l t .

49
 1940 - 43:
Size of A - 4 equipped with wings.
Approximately 5 to more thrust (tot 30 to) to cope with added
weight of wings.
Range: 800 km (500 mi)
Payload: 1 to (2200 lba)
Steering: Air vanes (to be operable over entire flight)

Design Objective :
1. Second stage for A - 10 (Roclcct; G l i d e r ) .
2. Without booster (A - 4) approximate range 500 mi.
3. Payload: same as A - 4.
4. Booster: new development & fuel see A - 8.

so
 -
-
A 10

1940 - u:
Weight : 101,580 kg ( 223,&76 lbs)
Length : 26.0 m (80 ft)
Diameter: 4.15 m (12.9 ft)
Fuel : LOX - Alcohol (75%)
Thrust: 20@ to ( ~ 0 , O O Olbs)

Th0: 50 sec

Range : 5500 km (3438 mi)

Blueprint stage only, never left the drawing board.

Design Objectives:
1. Proof of staging principle.
2. First step for satellite missile.
3. First step for space flight.

51
*.

GERMAN A - 1 0 ROCKET

CQ
.

ARRANGEMENT FOR 6 ENGINE BOOSTER (SKETCH)

53
I

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C
al

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al
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.. ..
a,
+
c
3

54
 CONCLUSION

The reason for the compilation of this report was the desire to

preserve significant historical information before it became lost or

*.
misplaced with time. It is hoped that this book has given the reader

an inside view of the tremendous amount of work in development, research,

and technology which had to be performed within the last 25 to 30 years

to make our today's "Space Effort" possible.

This report shows the very early, but real simple or crude start

of our rocket, missile, and space development and gives an appreciation

of the amount of research performed to come from the "Grand-Daddy"

( A - 4 / V - 2 ) to our present "Space Vehicles" (Saturn IB and Saturn V).